The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Pioneer Florida Museum joins Blue Star initiative

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The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, has joined museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families during the summer.

The program began on Armed Forces Day (May 18) and will end on Labor Day, Sept. 2.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across the United States. Blue Star Families is in its 14th year of offering the program.

“We are honored to have the privilege of supporting our military families and taking part in this year’s Blue Star Museums program,” said Stephanie Bracknell Black, executive director of Pioneer Florida Museum, in a news release.

The initiative allows military members and their families, whether they are traveling or getting to know a new duty location by exploring what the community has to offer, added Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, in the release.

In addition to the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, the Blue Star Museums program includes children’s museums, arts, science and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more, from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The current list of participating museums will continue to grow over the summer and organizations are welcome to register online to be a Blue Star Museum, at https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums/2024-registration.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members.

Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generational Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance to a participating Blue Star Museum.

Published May 29, 2024

Sharing secrets

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June Robinson caught this barred owl atop her bird feeder in Lakeshore Ranch. It appears the owl is listening to a ‘cardinal’ secret!

Health News 05/29/2024

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Pasco Fire Rescue recognized
The American Lung Association in Florida presented Pasco County Fire Rescue with the Top Fundraising Firefighter Company Trophy, recognizing the firefighter company that raised the most funds — nearly $10,000 — during the 19th annual Fight For Air Climb Tampa, the Lung Association’s premier stair-climbing fundraiser. This is the first time Pasco County received the top honor, according to a news release.

“As firefighters and first responders, it’s our duty to save lives and protect our community,” said Pasco Fire Rescue Chief Tony Perez, in the release. “Our team’s participation in the Fight For Air Climb Tampa is an extension of that commitment, and I’m proud so many of our firefighters heeded the call.”

Pasco Fire Rescue competed against 13 other Tampa Bay area teams in the firefighter division. Twenty-five team members climbed in full turnout gear to the top of the Bank of America Plaza, Tampa’s second-tallest skyscraper.

“Lung health and air quality are especially important for firefighters and first responders – the nature of our work puts us at a higher risk for developing lung disease,” added Chief Perez. “The Lung Association’s work is critical to us, our families and our community.”

The Fight For Air Climb brought together more than 600 participants and raised more than $171,000 for the Lung Association’s mission.

For information about the event, visit ClimbTampa.org. For more about firefighters and lung health, including ways to reduce risk and early warning signs of lung disease, visit Lung.org.

Hospital earns top safety grade
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has received an “A” grade in the Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2024 Hospital Safety Grades, released on May 1.

The hospital now has earned the top grade four consecutive times — fall 2023, spring 2023 and fall 2022 — from the Leapfrog Group, a national organization that evaluates hospitals for patient care and safety, according to a news release.

Leapfrog collects and analyzes data about infections, accidents, injuries and errors at nearly 3,000 general hospitals nationally. Letter grades ranging from “A” to “F” are assigned.

“Patient safety is among the highest priorities for our medical staff and team members,” said Sara Dodds, president of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in the release.

“We are laser-focused on patient safety. We are proud that we have been recognized four consecutive times with the highest grade in this national report card and evaluation. The grade reflects the contributions of our entire hospital and that our initiatives, practices and protocols in the area of patient safety are working and are at the highest standards,” said Dodds.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, opened in February 2010 to bring high-quality health care services to north Tampa. The hospital is part of the BayCare Health System.

Child advocate award
Robin DeLaVergne, senior vice president of external affairs at Tampa General Hospital, was named the 2024 Cornelia Corbett Child Advocate Award recipient at the Champions for Children annual “Light the Way” soiree in Tampa, according to a news release.

Each year, the award is presented to a prominent community member who, through their philanthropy and advocacy, has made a significant contribution to the welfare of children in the Tampa Bay area.

DeLaVergne serves on the Tampa Downtown Partnership Board of Directors, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council Executive Committee and Board, and the Tampa Bay Chamber Board of Directors. She currently serves as chair for the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County.

The recipient has received multiple awards for her commitment and leadership in the Tampa Bay area, including the 2012 Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida; the 2017 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award from the Tampa Bay Chamber; the 2017 Sustainer of the Year from the Junior League of Tampa; and the Leadership Tampa Alumni 2017 Park Wright III Award, the release says.

The AdventHealth Winter Haven ER is expected to open to patients at the end of May. (Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

New off-site emergency department
A ribbon-cutting for the New AdventHealth Winter Haven ER, 6945 Cypress Gardens Blvd., took place on May 9 with hospital leaders, local government officials and members of the business community in attendance, according to a news release.

The 20,000-square-foot ER has 24 exam rooms, including a resuscitation room, a bariatric room, an isolation room, an obstetrics-friendly room and pediatric-friendly rooms.

The facility also will have two triage rooms near the lobby to help patients be seen and get into treatment quickly.

The ER will offer lab services, X-ray, CT and ultrasound scans, too, and a helipad was constructed behind the ER to help support critical patient transfers, the release says.

The new emergency room is 2.5 miles and less than five minutes from the LEGOLAND Florida Resort, of which AdventHealth is an official medical partner.

Chalk Talk 05/29/2024

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Daniel Powell, Ph.D. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

New staff named at PHSC
Daniel Powell, Ph.D., has been chosen to serve as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer for Pasco-Hernando State College, beginning early June, according to a news release.

Powell most recently served as the vice president of academic success at Northwest Vista College (NVC) since 2019. Before joining NVC, he was dean of the school of arts & humanities at Laramie County Community College, and served as the music and theater chair at the Patel Conservatory in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

Powell’s new role entails coordinating the development and implementation of all academic programs, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and state and federal guidelines.

He will inherit the role from Gerene Thompson, Ph.D., assistant vice president and dean of arts and sciences, who is serving as interim CAO (chief administrative officer) after Stanley Giannet retired in January.

Honor Day Awards
The Citizens Concerned for Students will recognize Pasco County public middle and high school African American students who have earned the Honor Roll at least once during the current school year. The annual event, known as Honor Day, will celebrate more than 2,600 students who have earned the achievement this year.

The ceremony will be on June 2 at 6 p.m., at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

Adjacent in the Wesley Chapel High gymnasium, the annual College and Career Fair will also take place at 4 p.m. The fair will feature universities, schools and career paths — including the University of South Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, University of Florida, National Aviation Academy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — and the Pasco Education Foundation’s Take Stock in Children Scholarship program.

New this year, during the career fair, the Honor Day Soul Food Sampler will feature complimentary soul food-inspired cuisine from local Tampa Bay area soul food restaurants and caterers.

The fair, sampler and ceremony are free and open to the public. 

For more information, visit HonorDayPasco.org.

Drumline summer program
The 501(c)3 nonprofit Samaritan Corporation of Pasco County Inc.’s Blue Diamond Drumline will begin its summer program on June 3 at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, for students ages 6 to 17.

No musical experience is necessary and no prior knowledge of reading music is required.

Sign-up begins on May 28 at the park, where there is a display that includes schedules, brochures and business cards. Parents can provide the student’s name and phone number on the sign-up sheet and will be contacted regarding the student’s start date.

All classes will be on Mondays and Tuesdays, starting June 3, at 6:15 p.m., for advanced students who started in January, and at 7:15 p.m., for all beginners.

For more information, contact Clyde Carter at 813-953-7263 or .

Saint Leo offers camps
Saint Leo University’s summer camps are taught by university faculty and staff and include a range of offerings such as sports (basketball, baseball); swimming lessons; acrobatics & tumbling; recreation activities; and academics (music, STEM, robotics, writing).

There also is a Little Lions Recreation Camp, and three robotics camps — coed middle and high school camps, and the Girls Can! camp for ages 11 to 15.
New programs this year focus on the arts in voice, instrumental and general music, as well as writing and illustrating books.

For those who like science, there is the new Lions Den STEM Summer Camp, too.

Full details about all the camps can be found online at SaintLeoCamps.com. Camps will take place on campus at 33701 County Road 52 in St. Leo.

For more information, email Carrie Fidurko at .

Teacher hiring event
Pasco County Schools will host a Teacher Hiring Event on June 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Connerton Elementary School, 9300 Flourish Drive in Land O’ Lakes. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, a growth mindset and a willingness to help students grow. For more information and to preregister, visit Pasco County Schools on Facebook or https://ryu.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq-mform/view.php?id=134578.

Taylor Buono is a new intern at Victory High School. (Courtesy of Victory High School)

Intern explores new role
Taylor Buono has been recognized as a new intern at Victory High School, and in her partnership she will explore occupational therapy’s role in recovery high schools, develop programming for students, and complete mental health first aid training, according to a news release.

Buono earned an Associate of Arts at Hillsborough Community College in 2018, a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of South Florida in 2020, and currently is earning an entry-level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (August 2024) at Nova Southeastern University.

The student is interested and passionate about novel and emerging areas in occupational therapy, such as public and community health, community integration/reintegration, mental health, life transitions, and more.

Buono believes in individuals’ rights to engage and participate in age-appropriate, essential and meaningful daily activities for their overall physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional health and wellness, the release says.

Summer Haul bus pass
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) buses all summer — June 1 to Aug. 31 — for just $20 with a Summer Haul Pass. 

The special student rate passes can be found at these locations:

  • GoPasco Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey
  • Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, East/West Pasco Government Centers
  • New Port Richey Library, Main Street
  • County libraries, various locations

For more information about the pass or GoPasco bus routes and schedules, visit GoPasco.com.

School’s out for summer!

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(Courtesy of Sabrina Di Roma)

Nykolus Di Roma, of Lutz, celebrates his fifth-grade graduation from Denham Oaks Elementary in style. The last day of school for Pasco County students was May 24.

Hillsborough residents have opportunity to offer feedback 

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Hillsborough County has rolled out its 2024 Countywide Survey and wants to hear from its residents.

(Peter Olexa/Pexels)

A telephone survey began on May 14 and offers selected Hillsborough residents — including those in Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City — the opportunity to provide feedback on community topics and their level of satisfaction with local government services, according to a news release.

The county will use the results of the survey to inform and update government operations. The responses will help evaluate residents’ current priorities and satisfaction levels. Results also will be compared to the 2021 Countywide Survey, the last time a similar survey was completed.

Questions in the survey are designed to capture a holistic assessment of various aspects of life in Hillsborough County, such as: local economy, public safety, life enrichment, recreational opportunities, self-sufficiency programs for individuals and families, and high-quality community assets.

Residents who do not receive a phone call can still participate in the online survey by visiting HCFL.gov/Survey, which will be available later this month.

For more information, visit the survey website.

Published May 22, 2024

Volunteers sought for World Oceans Day cleanup

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(Richard Segal/Pexels)

Each year, the United Nations recognizes World Oceans Day on June 8, a celebratory day to remind everyone of the importance of oceans, to educate everyone on the impact of human actions on the ocean, and to develop a worldwide movement of citizens to create a sustainable solution.

In Florida, the greatest source of water pollution is stormwater. This condition originates from rainwater after it hits the ground. Stormwater runoff picks up waste and debris as it flows across the roads and land, carrying pollutants into the waterways, according to the Keep Pasco Beautiful website.

Keep Pasco Beautiful is offering two cleanup events on June 8 from 8 a.m. to noon, to promote a healthy ocean for a healthy climate, and vice versa:

  • Inland cleanup, at Anclote Gulf Park, 2305 Baillies Bluff Road in Holiday
  • Kayak cleanup, Energy and Marine Center, 9130 Old Post Road, Port Richey

Volunteer registration is open until June 1, online at https://www.keeppascobeautiful.org/world-oceans-day.

Published May 22, 2024

Community comes together for food drive

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The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes wants to extend its appreciation to the Lutz community for its generous donation of more than 16,000 pounds of food during the recent U.S. Postal Service letter carriers’ campaign, Stamp Out Hunger.

The pantry also extends its thanks to Boy Scout Troop 33, the Fraternity of Men and many other volunteers for boxing, weighing and storing the donations picked up by the letter carriers. 

(Joel Moysuh/Unsplash)

“Sixteen thousand pounds of food fills approximately 450 banana boxes. To store, box and store that amount of food for future distribution to the hungry is a massive undertaking. We couldn’t do it without their help,” said John Hofmann, council president, St. Vincent de Paul, in a note drafted to the community and sent to The Laker/Lutz News.

This year’s donations surpassed last year’s donations by 3,000 pounds. 

Former council president Sharon Turner added, “At a time when food insecurity is on the rise, it is a blessing that the community responded so generously.”

The Stamp Out Hunger campaign began in 1993 and is the country’s largest single-day food drive. It is held on the second Saturday in May and letter carriers in cities and towns across the United States collect donations of nonperishable food items left by residents near their mailboxes.

The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is part of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a voluntary international Catholic organization founded in 1833 in service to the poor.

The pantry at Our Lady of the Rosary, 2348 Collier Parkway, distributes food to families on Thursdays and Fridays.

For more about the food pantry, visit https://ladyrosary.org/svdp.

Published May 22, 2024

Pool time with friends

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Ranger and Bear, 1-year-old pugs, and their friend Beef, an English bulldog rescue, enjoy a pool day together. Ranger and Bear live with Robin and John Phillips in Land O’ Lakes, and Beef resides with Amber and Sean Phillips in Tarpon Springs.

A colorful composition

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Paul Dinwiddie, of Wesley Chapel, snapped this photo of a monarch butterfly in his vegetable garden. The monarch butterfly, or simply monarch, has other common names, depending on the region, including milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. The monarch is among the most recognized, studied and loved of all of North America’s insects.